A 22-year veteran of the New York Police Department (NYPD) has traded his shield for a playwright’s pen, bringing authentic stories of friendship and community to the Off-Off-Broadway stage. Steven Sarao, a Lieutenant Detective Commander with the NYPD premiered his debut play “The Boys from Kingsbridge” at Theater For The New City, marking a remarkable transition from law enforcement to theatrical storytelling.
The play unfolds against the dramatic backdrop of the 1999 American League Division Championship between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, weaving together themes of enduring friendship and the complex relationships between police officers and the neighborhoods where they grew up. Drawing from his extensive experience serving New York City communities, Sarao brings unprecedented authenticity to his portrayal of officers who protect the very streets where they were raised.
“This play is a celebration of friendship and the vital role police officers play in their communities,” Sarao explains. “It’s about the bonds that develop when you grow up alongside the people you protect.”
The path to playwriting represents a natural evolution for Sarao, whose background uniquely positions him to tell these stories. Before his law enforcement career, he received training at NYU Tisch School of the Arts Drama Program, establishing a foundation in dramatic arts that would later inform his writing. His educational journey continued at Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where he earned a master’s degree and subsequently served as a fellow in Harvard’s Program for Criminal Justice and Management.
Throughout his police career, Sarao became a recognized authority on terrorism, corruption, and criminal justice reform. He traveled extensively to educate police departments nationwide through the State & Local Anti-Terrorism Training (SLATT) program, focusing on domestic and international terrorism preparedness for first responders. To date the program has trained over 430,000 law enforcement, criminal justice, and homeland security professionals throughout the United States. His expertise extended beyond American borders, with work in crisis zones including Nigeria, Haiti, Ethiopia, and Rwanda, where he contributed to security and policy initiatives that often reduced violence against women and girls.
This international experience, combined with his academic background, led Sarao to pen numerous op-ed pieces addressing drug policy, counterterrorism strategy, and Sub-Saharan African affairs. These writings demonstrated his ability to translate complex security issues into accessible narratives, a skill now evident in his theatrical work.
“The Boys from Kingsbridge” represents just the beginning of Sarao’s theatrical journey. Sarao has a second work, “Beneath The Snow,” a one-act play that depicts the earliest version of online dating; the piece takes place in Greenwich Village during a massive blizzard in a historic New York pub. His third play, set in rural southern New Jersey, “Gambling In The Garden,” tells the story of a close knit casino lounge band struggling amidst a multitude of societal challenges to make it in the then popular casino entertainment industry which rose in its development in the 1980’s. Sarao most recently returned from Spoleto, Italy, where he completed his fourth play with LaMama Umbria, “Ode to Daddy,” under the mentorship of renowned playwright Dael Orlandersmith. Sarao’s growing body of work has recently earned him acceptance into the prestigious Actors Studio Playwright and Directors Unit for the 2025-2026 season, where he will continue developing new works exploring pressing social issues and human experiences.
“I want to create stories that resonate with people, that spark conversations about community, trust, and deep human understanding,” Sarao states, outlining his vision for future projects.
The emergence of voices like Sarao’s reflects a broader shift in contemporary theater toward more authentic, nuanced portrayals of American life. By bringing his unique perspective as both a law enforcement veteran and trained dramatist, he offers audiences stories that move beyond traditional narratives to explore the complexities of community relationships and public service.
As “The Boys from Kingsbridge” continues its journey at Theater For The New City, it stands as both a personal achievement and a contribution to the evolving landscape of independent New York theater. The play invites audiences to experience a heartfelt tribute to the communities that shape urban life, told through the lens of someone who spent decades protecting and serving those very neighborhoods.
With multiple works in development spanning theater, television and film, and a growing reputation in theatrical circles, Steven Sarao is positioning himself as a distinctive voice in American theater. His journey from the streets of New York to the Off-Off-Broadway stage demonstrates how diverse life experiences can enrich artistic expression, bringing fresh perspectives to timeless themes of friendship, duty, and community.
